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As previously projected by Graff & McGovern, it appears more and more likely that the implementation of Ohio Senate Bill 319 during 2017 will mirror the implementation of House Bill 93 (related to Pain Management Clinics) back in 2011. As such, we can reasonably expect that many physicians involved in Suboxone treatment will be sanctioned and/or determined to be ineligible to treat patients using Suboxone; and that many others physicians who want to begin prescribing Suboxone to help their patients will be unable to do so.

Ohio’s Senate Bill 319 represents new regulation that is especially important to the work of the State Medical Board, said Medical Board Executive Director, A.J. Groeber, in his statement supporting the Bill. Mr. Groeber went on to say that the Ohio Medical Board sees SB 319 as the next step logical step to address the issue of pill mills in Ohio.

According to Mr. Groeber, the Ohio Medical Board embraces the regulatory framework that creates a coordinated approach with the Ohio Pharmacy Board over licensing Suboxone treatment providers. Mr. Groeber stated that [h]ad the provisions of SB 319 already been in place, our respective boards would’ve been able to respond more quickly to [prescribing] cases, and perhaps identify additional violators.

SB 319’s sponsor, Senator John Eklund, of Ohio’s 18th District, shares the views held by Mr. Groeber and the Ohio Medical Board. While acknowledging that specific rules had not yet been drafted, Senator Eklund stated that SB 319 mirrors successful licensure policies implemented in HB 93 [in2011] to address the issue of rogue [pain]management clinics.

All of this strongly suggests that those practitioners currently treating patients with Suboxone, as well as those practitioners who have intention to do so, must be prepared to react to and navigate through the restrictive and punitive regulatory scheme being implemented under SB 319.

If you are a health care professional whose practice could be impacted by the proposed regulations that will govern opioid dependency treatment using Suboxone, or if you simply have questions regarding SB 319, the State Medical Board of Ohio or the Ohio Board of Pharmacy, then you should consider contacting one of our Ohio <ahref= “https:=”” www.graffmcgovern.com=”” license-defense=”” ohio-medical-board=”” “=””>professional lice attorneys at Graff & McGovern, LPA,?for a no-cost consultation. Levi Tkach is available to take your call at 614-228-5800, extension 4.</ahref=>